With captain, Nicolas Lodeiro side-lined due to an abductor’s muscle and Cristian Roldan fully healthy coach Brian Schmetzer shuffled the deck against Charlotte Saturday night.
Raul Ruidiaz started up top with a midfield of Leo Chu, Albert Rusnak ad Cristian Roldan. Behind them were Joao Paulo and Obed Vargas. Behind the duo were Nouhou, Jackson Ragen, Yeimar Gomez and Alex Roldan, and Stefan Frei in goal. The shuffled lineup prospered right from the begging. Two minutes into the game Ruidiaz won a free kick and forced Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kadlina to make a save. A subsequent shot by Rusnak forced another save.
The sustained effort paid dividends in the 11th minute when Ragen floated a pinpoint pass to a streaking Cristian Roldan who blew past the Charlotte defense brought the ball down with one leg and slotted the ball in the back of the net for the Sounders lead.
COUNTER PUNCH
Rather than retreat the home side bowed their neck and went after the Sounders midfield. Charlotte defender Jaylin Lindsey leveled the game six minutes later when he took advantage of a defensive lapse by the Sounders. The goals settled down the two teams and the result was a counter-attacking game from end to end. Advanced movement by Rusnak, Chu provided room for Ruidiaz who score absolute goolaso in the 35th minute to give the Sounders the 2-1 lead
As a result of the goal, the Sounders entered the halftime break feeling confident on how things were going.
WILD SECOND HALF
For some unknown reason, the Sounders started the second half on the back foot. That is they dropped back on defense and gave Charlotte room to attack. The home side had two chances that went begging early in the second half. A Karol Swiderski header went wide of the Sounders goal in the 48th minute and Kerwin Vargas right footed shot was blocked. The third time was a charm for Charlotte. An exquisite counterattack from their half of the field caught the Sounders off guard and the play ended with a gallaso by Ashley Westwood. With the game knotted at 2all, both sides threw caution to the wind.
WILDER FINISH
Despite being bunkered down the Sounders stayed alert for their own counterattack opportunity. The opportunity arrived in the 70th minute. A Joao Paulo cross found a poaching Ruidiaz who slotted the ball in the back of the Charlotte net to give the Sounders the 3-2 lead. After taking the lead the Sounders once again retreated defensively and conceded space to Charlotte who was on the prowl for the equalizer. Nathan Byrne’s cross into the Sounders goal box found a leaping Patrick Agyemang. The 6’4 second-half sub-headed the ball over Ragen and into the back of the net for the equalizer.
BIG TAKE AWAY
The Sounders were downtrodden in their post-game interview as was head coach Brian Schmetzer. The game was two points lost rather than a point gained. The scoring of the three goals was a huge positive. When you consider the goals were a brace by Ruidiaz and a heart-warming welcome-back goal by Cristian Roldan. The questions that need answering by the coaching staff is why did the team drop back and allow gaps and space between midfielders and the backline. Were the three goals an anomaly or a trend? One would guess it was an anomy given the Sounders had one of the top defenses entering the game. With the International break here the coaching staff will have plenty of time to sort it out.
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